Bill from united utilities

Ladybird20

I have just got a letter from what i assume is a collection company for an unpaid bill on my rental property feb 2006:eek:to june 2006
On speaking to LA about it they said my property was empty at that time.
On then speaking to United Utlities they said that LA did an estimate reading of the moving out tenant but went out and read it themselves a month later?????
I now have a bill that isnt mine to the tune of 180.00 and i am not sure which way to go on the matter ,,,i will be paying of course the standing charge but sumwere its all gone wrong:( advise appreciated

Fire_Fox

If the property was empty the bill is yours - who else should pay it?? Next time a tenant vacates you need to immediately transfer off the expensive standard tariff onto a no standing charge tariff AND check the heating and hot water are switched off. Why aren't your letting agents communicating with you so you know who the supplier is and what the closing readings are so you can pay the bill?

Ladybird20

Yes i think it is the letting agents fault that the reading wasnt done however i have been back on the fone agen to united utilities and spoke to someone who was Brilliant and after listening to me has decided to write the bill off..based on the fact that the letter from the collection company has nobodies name on it and would not stand up in court.....i always do my own meter readings now based on another meter reading issue with LA..so this wont be happeneing again......good point about the no standing charge....

Fire_Fox

If a debt collector has got involved I would not have been dealing with this by telephone, are you getting it in writing that this is being written off? Many times people have found energy company staff have not actioned what they say.

Ladybird20

they have recalled the bill from the debt company and filled in the form while i was on the fone and i asked for the persons name who dealt with me.........so i will wait and see

tbs624

Prior to the DCA's involvement , did either you or the LA receive a bill for this disputed amount? If not, they have to write off a debt that is more than 12 months old.

Don't simply rely on phone calls, follow them up with a letter confirming to whom you spoke, on which date, what was discussed and what was agreed as next step. Keep a copy.

Kick your LAs behind, or find yourself a new one who better looks after your interests in return for their hefty fee.